Parliament Panel Reviews DDA Functioning, Discusses Building Collapse Incidents

A parliamentary standing committee on Wednesday reviewed the functioning of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), with members hearing the views of officials on the agency's operations.

The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs took up the briefing from representatives of the Department of Capital Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, on a review of the DDA's working.

Speaking after the meeting, panel chairperson Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy said the discussion covered recent calamities, including building collapse incidents in the national capital. He said the DDA's functioning was examined in detail.

On old and dilapidated buildings, Reddy said the DDA is issuing notices asking residents to take up redevelopment. He noted that decisions have already been taken to provide additional floor space index and other provisions for such projects.

He described the recent incidents as having prompted more people to come forward, calling it a positive development, and said the DDA is taking appropriate steps within its areas of work.

Reddy also spoke about the land pooling policy, describing it as a sound initiative. Under the arrangement, farmers are brought into the development process rather than having their land directly purchased or acquired, which he said would help them realise better value after development. He added that the DDA's functioning is being managed well and that officials are actively involved in development activities.

The meeting's agenda also included consideration and adoption of a draft report of the committee for 2025-26 on the subject of census criteria for defining urban areas.